Chapter Nineteen
Mindy
The door slams open with a bang, followed by the thunderous roar of motorcycle after motorcycle pulling up outside. I closed my shop up early, too bruised and emotionally damaged to put on a smiling face.
Amber’s stayed with me, but I’ve been a sobbing mess the whole time, unable to keep up with my tears.
The second I see him come rushing through the door, I’m in his arms, throwing myself at him like we haven’t been silent for weeks.
“Shh, it’s okay,” he coos, brushing my tears away with his thumb. “Baby, tell me what happened.” He lifts my face and freezes when he sees the bruises. “Who did this to you?” he growls, fingers trembling with rage.
“Rico, but you can’t do anything about it, Rich. They’ll hurt you if they do.”
Some of his club members come inside; the others linger just outside the door. Amber rushes over and hugs one of them, a handsome guy with dark brown hair and penetrating eyes that could make any woman go weak. Still, handsome or not, in my eyes, he’ll never be Krampus.
Krampus shoots him a look. “Rico’s gonna die, Drac. I want this man’s blood!”
The man shifts and motions for someone to come inside. Another man I don’t recognize marches in, but he’s so tall, I have to crane my neck to look up at him.
“Bigfoot, get with Hannibal and do a sweep of this place. Sweep for everything. We need to know just what we’re working with here.”
“Got it, Prez.” The man marches off, but what Drac said has me afraid.
“Sweep?”
Krampus clutches my hand. “It’s just a precaution, baby. Doesn’t mean they will find anything.”
Several other club members filter in, and the air suddenly thickens with leather, tension, and barely restrained violence.
Krampus’ voice drops. “Rico put his hands on her.”
Drac’s brow arcs, his mouth clenching. “I’m gonna need you to stay calm, Rich. We can’t make a move without knowing what steps to take.”
“If I fucking see him, he’s dead.”
The swear word burns my ears, but instead of shying away from it, I bury my head in Krampus’ chest.
The men move fast. Too fast.
Krampus leaves me alone for a few minutes to tend to something, and I’m so distracted by all the noise and movement that I don’t notice the man stepping up behind me until it’s too late. He steps closer, invading my space just enough to make my skin prickle.
“Well,” he drawls, eyes dragging over me in a way I don’t like. “I figured you’d be pretty, but I didn’t think my dick would ache this much looking at you.”
Krampus’ head snaps up from across the room.
“Excuse me? Who are you?”
He holds up his hand and grins. “The name’s Jigsaw, sugar peach, and I’m just wondering what you see in my VP over there. You’re too pretty for him, and he’s not exactly the best thing to look at.”
“Neither are you,” I bite back, repulsed by his scraggily hair that’s oily and unbrushed, and a vile smile missing quite a few teeth. He smells like moldy corn chips, with some thirty-day bourbon mixed in.
Jigsaw smirks. “I like a woman who knows how to clap back. I bet I can make other parts of you clap loudly too.” His hand moves to my shoulder, and I jump away from him, instantly seeking out Krampus in the crowd.
He’s already by my side though, protectively sheltering me with his arm.
“Back up,” Krampus warns.
Jigsaw chuckles softly. “Relax. It’s not like she’s claimed yet. Maybe we can share her? We can take turns with her or something.”
Krampus’ fists clench at his sides. “I claimed her at church,” he growls.
Jigsaw tilts his head. “Is that so? Thought she had to be present and accept the claim in order for it to be legit? I don’t remember you being at Church this morning, sugar peach.”
My stomach twists.
Drac steps between them instantly. “That’s enough, Jigsaw. Back the fuck up!”
Jigsaw lifts his hands in mock surrender, but his eyes stay locked on me. “Didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes, Prez, I’m just saying that no one owns her yet, which means I have every right to shoot my shot with her.”
Krampus takes a step forward, fury rolling off him in waves. “You don’t get to talk about her like that.”
Jigsaw’s smile sharpens. “Are you sure you’re the one she’d want to choose if given the option, Krampy? Or are you just hoping she doesn’t see you as a charity case?”
“Outside, Jigsaw,” Drac snaps. “Now.”
Jigsaw laughs under his breath but backs off, shooting me one last look that makes me feel icky and gross before disappearing with the others.
Krampus turns to me immediately, concern replacing his rage. “You okay?”
I nod, even though my hands are shaking.
Bigfoot reappears at the bottom of the stairs. “Prez. We need you.”
Drac nods once. “Keep her here.”
Krampus hesitates, then presses a quick kiss to my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
They follow Bigfoot upstairs, so I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I feel the weight of it like I’m tied to a cinder block and left to drown.
Amber stays by my side, rubbing my arm. “Hey. You’re safe right now, okay?”
My lip quivers. “I don’t feel safe.”
She nods. “I know, but trust the club, Mindy. They’ll protect you.”
“Maybe I should just leave town?”
Amber shakes her head. “Absolutely not. I need you to help me with Thanksgiving dinner. I can’t make pies like you do.”
The thought of having a big Thanksgiving dinner with all these people has me smiling.
“See, food always brightens the mood,” she says, her eyes slightly pinching together.
“Are you okay, Amber?”
She nods. “I’m having Braxton-Hicks contractions. Been having them for weeks.”
“When are you due?”
“Right around Christmas, if I even make it until then.”
Minutes later, they return. Drac’s face is cool like hard stone, but Krampus looks wrecked.
“You can’t stay here anymore,” Krampus says firmly.
“What?” I blink. “Why?”
“Because it’s not safe,” he urges. “Pack whatever you need, but I’m getting you out of here.”
“Rich, I told you I can’t leave my shop. If I do…”
“Please, baby, you gotta trust me on this. This time I have a good reason for taking you away.
Amber opens her mouth to argue for me, then quickly closes it after she studies their faces, reading something I have completely missed. “I’ll help you pack. "
We pack a few duffle bags, then strap them to my bike.
Outside, engines rumble to life again.
As Krampus guides me toward my bike, I feel someone’s eyes following me. Jigsaw’s leaning against a post nearby, arms crossed, his beady brown eyes tracking every movement.
“Be careful,” he calls out casually. “Things can get messy when things go unclaimed.”
Krampus stops abruptly and then turns to him slowly, his voice low and lethal. “She chose me, asshole.”
Jigsaw raises a brow. “Did she?”
Krampus doesn’t answer him. He looks at me for answers instead.
When I wrap my arms around Krampus, holding him too tight, Jigsaw finally looks away.
And that’s where we leave everything. They put up a note in my shop that says closed until further notice, locking the door behind them.
I have no idea what they found inside my apartment, or how bad this really is.
But as the wind whips past me, doing my best to keep up with Krampus riding up ahead, one thing has become crystal clear… whatever’s coming next, will resort in violence.